State Tournament: Players to Watch on Day 1

<p>Every team in the state hopes to still be playing when the first week of March comes around. For some, competing at state is expected. For others, nobody thought they would make it this far. There are 12 teams left in each classification and everyone playing on Day 1 is in a "win or go home" situation. Here are the top players to watch in the Tacoma Dome as we head into the first day of state on Wednesday, March 2nd. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="674428" first="Tre" last="Blassingame"] - 6’5 SG - Auburn</strong></p> <p>Blassingame is one of the most skilled players in the state tournament. On defense, he prides himself on locking down opposing guards and forwards. On offense, he is a natural scorer and gets buckets while being efficient. Blassingame is fun to watch because his game is smooth and has an old-school feel. He has the athletic ability to blow by defenders and the body control to stop on a dime and hit his signature mid-range jumper. Blassingame and the Trojans lost in a battle against Mt. Spokane last week but they are still one of the favorites to compete for the title this weekend. The road to a ring is much tougher now but look for Blassingame to get Auburn back on track. </p> <p><strong>Jacob Cofie - 6’9 PF - Eastside Catholic</strong></p> <p>Cofie is only a sophomore but his game doesn't look like that of an underclassman. He has already shown why he is one of the top players in his class at the national level and has been a huge piece for the Crusaders throughout the season. Despite his young age, he has the tools to take over a game. He scores with his back to the basket, knocks down jumpers, and can put the ball on the floor. Cofie and his team come in as the lower seed on Wednesday but they have already beat O'Dea earlier in the season. Watch out for Cofie to show why he is one of the top players in the Class of 2024.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1270609" first="Brooklyn" last="Hicks"] - 6’3 CG - Timberline HS</strong></p> <p>Hicks is the #4 ranked player in our Prep Hoops WA rankings and those who have seen him play understand why. He is usually the most athletic player on the floor and uses his quickness and explosive ability on both ends of the floor. Only a junior, he has already surpassed the 1,000 point mark on the season. He is such a great offensive player that many overlook how good he is defensively. Hicks is great at playing the passing lane and getting out on the break to put on a show. Known for his highlight dunks, Hicks is a crowd favorite and often the spark his team needs to go on big runs. Their first game in the dome should be a battle but having the best player on the floor is definitely an advantage for the Blazers. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1120390" first="Joshua" last="Wood"] - 6’2 PG - Graham Kapowsin</strong></p> <p>Wood is known around the state as a prolific quarterback. He led the football team to a state championship and then a national win over the top player in the country. I don't know which sport Wood loves more, but he sure does look more than comfortable on the court. He has the IQ to make the right play and the talent to make the highlight play. In the regional playoff, Wood had a highlight play in each half on his way to 16 points. The first, a deep three that came after a step back that put the defender on the floor. The second, a fast-break dunk to seal the win. The top quarterback in the state looks to lead his team to an upset over Davis.</p> <p><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="674423" first="Jayden" last="Stevens"] - 6’8 SF - Gonzaga Prep</strong></p> <p>Stevens comes into the tournament with a commitment to Oregon State. A Division 1 talent is already a must-watch but most people on the west side of the state haven't gotten to see how special Stevens is. Gonzaga Prep started their season with more losses than they would have liked and had to fight to turn their season around. Stevens and his ability to score 20 points on any given night led the Bullpups to a great second half of the season and big wins over Kamiakin and Mt. Spokane who are both in the state tournament. Stevens looks to extend the season as they compete against the long and athletic roster of the Federal Way Eagles. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1270612" first="Vaughn" last="Weems"] - 6’4 SF - Federal Way</strong></p> <p>Weems is a top player in the state and his team is one of my favorites to watch. Much like the rest of his team, Weems plays the game with a confident swagger. He knows he is good but he doesn't play outside of himself to show it. He uses his strength and explosion to score points, get rebounds, and defend whoever he needs to, regardless of size. While he can have breakout moments where he scores in bunches or dunks in traffic, he is okay with doing whatever the team needs him to do to win. Oftentimes, that is getting hustle points coming from offensive rebounds. The Weems vs Stevens match-up is a must-see on Wednesday night. </p>